
Class _ 
Book.. 



GoipghtU?.. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



DAYBREAK 



ELIZABETH W. F. JACKSON 






Copyright 1914 

By 

Elizabeth W. F. Jackson 



The Blosser Co., Atlanta 

ftJK (41914 

©CU387924 



There are moments rare, when upon the 
soul, traveling Godward, the light of Truth 
shines brightly, driving away the lingering 
doubts and fears; like the light of the new 
day, driving away the lurking shadows of 
night. 



CONTENTS 

Page 

The Temple of Understanding 7 

Over the Hills and Beyond the Sea the 

Sun is Always Shining 11 

The Water Lily 18 

The Fire-flies 21 

The Winged Messenger 24 

The Climbers 28 

The Awakening 35 

The Waves 37 

The Wheatfield 40 

When the Boat's Prow Touched the 

Shore 43 

The Golden Light 52 



THE TEMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING. 

Far out over the shining waves, upon a 
small island, was a building of purest white. 
From this building, as from a lighthouse, 
shone a bright yellow light, making a golden 
path, as it were, across the water to the 
shore. 

Boats were traveling back and forth over 
this shining track. There were two persons 
in each boat : one who seemed to be the boat- 
man — though the boats appeared to travel 
of themselves, with no propelling power; — 
the other passenger seemed to be a pilgrim 
of some sort. 

Time after time the boats traversed the 
space between island and shore, taking the 
pilgrims back and forth. At last a boat stop- 
ped in front of where I stood, and the boat- 
man held out his hand to help me on board. 
In joyful surprise I stepped into the boat. 

As we approached the island, I noticed 
the wide steps, marble, like the building 
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itself, but the bright yellow light which the 
whole building radiated fell upon them, 
making them look like stairs of gold. 

There was such a kind, benevolent look 
upon the boatman's face as he led me to the 
foot of the steps. "You cannot enter until 
you understand,'' he said. 

"But I do not understand," I replied. 

"Not now, perhaps; but you are willing 
to learn ; otherwise I should not have brought 
you here." He turned, and seated himself in 
the boat. 

A light, brighter than before, fell upon 
me. I looked up. In the doorway stood a 
radiant being — man, yet not man — god, yet 
not god. I felt so drawn to him, I could have 
thrown myself prostrate at his feet, and 
clasped the hem of his garment. Yet I was 
abashed before him. 

He gazed steadily at me a full moment, 
then he said, "Now you understand; enter." 

"Yes, I said joyfully, as I climbed the 
golden steps, I do understand. It is love ; 
nothing but the unbounded love of God, 
which tills the whole world." 

Pafce Eifcht 



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The radiant one took me by the hand and 
led me inside. Oh, the joy of being in that 
place, where the atmosphere contained 
naught but pure love ! It seemed to me that 
one little moment there was worth more 
than all the years of my life. I was no 
longer abashed before the radiant one, for I 
recognized in him a teacher divine, whose 
desire was to help me. 

"Come," he said, "let us see what work 
love does in the world." 

We walked to the window and looked out 
upon the sea, which was the world. Over it 
flitted shapes dark and gloomy, like demons. 
It was a dismal sight. 

Suddenly, from where we stood, a bright, 
golden ray shone out over the dreary sea. 
The dark forms began to flee, and one by 
one, as they felt the warmth of the golden 
light, they became meek and gentle, and help- 
ful toward one another. And over the sea was 
peace, and white-winged messengers flew back 
and forth across the gently rocking waves. 

"I understand," said I, "that love can do 
anything, and that love does everything." 

Pa&e Nine 



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"Go and tell it to the world," said he; 
and he led me to the door and raised his 
hands in benediction as I descended the 
steps. I re-entered the boat, and the boat- 
man guided it over the golden way. 

A group of pilgrims were standing upon 
the shore as I landed. They looked at me, 
and something of the joy within my heart 
must have been reflected upon my counte- 
nance, for they crowded about me. 

"What is the good news that you bring?" 
they asked eagerly. 

''Love can do anything, and love does every- 
thing" I said. " Whatever else may seem, there 
is nothing else in the world bat God's love — 
nothing but God's love." 



&e Ten 



OVER THE HILLS AND BEYOND 

THE SEA THE SUN IS ALWAYS 

SHINING. 

From the hill-top where we stood we 
could look down upon the surrounding coun- 
try, which was spread out like a panorama 
before us : wooded hills and verdant valleys, 
bright with the blooms of midsummer : here 
and there cattle were grazing peacefully. 

From somewhere up on the hill a stream 
came tumbling. We could not see it from 
where we stood, nor could we hear it; but 
we knew what must be, for just below us, 
at the foot of the hill, we saw the water all 
foamy and turbulent as it started across the 
valley. Then slower and slower it glided 
along, gracefully curving its way, with grad- 
ually widening banks. Gradually becoming 
more and more peaceful, it flowed along with 
that stillness and majesty which depth alone 
can give, on and on, through salty marshes 
now, till it reached the restless sea. 
Pa&e Eleven 



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Far out across the shining waters the 
horizontal rays of the setting sun marked a 
golden path to lands unseen. 

Now and then we heard the soft, con- 
tented lowing of the cattle in the meadow ; 
and from somewhere on the hills beyond, 
so faintly we could barely distinguish the 
sound, came the tremulous bleating of a 
lamb, drowsily, as it nestled closer, its little 
head half hidden in its mother's breast. 

From a point lower down on the hill-side 
pilgrims came into the valley. Each one 
carried a burden of some sort. Some- 
times it was a tiny thing, no heavier than a 
basket of flowers ; and sometimes the weight 
of the burden bent the back of him who 
bore it. 

I noticed that some of those whose bur- 
dens were the heaviest sang gaily. 

"How can it be?" I asked in surprise. 
My companion replied, "Joy cares not for 
external things, for it lies deep within the 
heart." 

Each pilgrim, as he looked toward the 
western sky, hesitated : for they all were 

Pa&e Twelve 



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seeking the golden path across the sea, but, 
from where they were, they could not see 
which path was most direct. 

Some of them chose the path which lead 
down into the valley. It was a beautiful 
path, shaded with densely growing trees, 
and overhung with vines. 

And the pilgrims ate of the poisonous 
fruit which grew temptingly by the way- 
side. Then their burdens became very heavy, 
and their feet dragged from weariness : and 
they threw themselves down upon the turf 
ere long, and never found the golden path 
at all. 

Other pilgrims chose the path which led 
to the meadow where the cattle were feed- 
ing. I did not wonder that many went that 
way — it was such a beautiful path. The 
midsummer grasses were waving and nod- 
ding in the breeze, and the brilliant hued 
flowers which dotted the meadow made one 
think of a huge flowered carpet, woven for 
the habitation of some mammoth princess. 

The pilgrims ran along like happy child- 
ren ; and often, as the path wound in and out, 
Pa&e Thirteen 



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they caught a glimpse of the sunlight, and 
they thought they would soon come to the 
golden way. 

But after awhile the path divided into so 
many smaller paths that the pilgrims be- 
came confused, and knew not which way to 
go. And some of them wandered for a long, 
long time, trying now this path, now that, 
only to find that none of them led to the 
golden way. 

Those who returned looked old and care- 
worn, and the garlands which they brought 
were all withered. They had been so beau- 
tiful when they had gathered them : but now, 
like old ideas, and old prejudices, and old 
things in general, they were a hindrance: so, 
one by one, they were thrown away. It was 
pitiful to see how some of the pilgrims clung 
to the old withered things. They would, 
perhaps, throw away everything except one 
or two faded, dry flowers — but how precious 
the one or two were ! 

Finally, with tears and sighs, they laid 
the last ones tenderly down, and hurried 
away. 

Pafce Fourteen 



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Then, with steps more elastic, and faces 
bright with renewed hope, they joined the 
pilgrims who were traveling toward the sea. 
It was a toilsome path, and some stumbled 
on the rough stones, and fell. 

Oh! the view that greeted the eyes of 
those who, having climbed to the top of the 
last hindering hill, gazed seaward! 

I, looking at them, knew not which it 
was, the sea, or the sky, or the joy within 
their hearts, that made them look so radiant. 

The golden path lay straight before them 
now; and as each pilgrim stepped into the 
shining light, he seemed to forget all else 
but the joy of having found the way. 

Like eager children, they hastened to the 
shore, and stood at the water's edge. As 
soon as one looked resolutely ahead, the 
waters parted and made a way like that made 
for the children of Israel of old. And there 
were many paths which led safely through 
the deep waters, and no two of the pilgrims 
trod the same path; yet they all traveled 
toward the glory of the setting sun. 

Then a strange thing happened. One of 
Pafce Fifteen 



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the pilgrims looked back wistfully toward 
the shore : for a little faded flower which he 
had thrown away still lay upon the sand. 

Immediately the waters closed about him, 
and he was borne to the shore upon the crest 
of a huge wave. 

Eagerly he picked up the flower, and hid it 
in his bosom. Then he walked back and forth 
seeking a path, but no path was opened for 
him. For a long time he walked up and down 
the shore — so long that I turned to my com- 
panion and asked, " How long must he wait ? " 

"Perhaps only a little longer: perhaps 
for a whole life-time : perhaps through many 
lives," he replied. "The path will never open 
for him as long as he cherishes the withered 
flower. The cloak which hides any unclean 
thing cannot cover a pure heart; and only 
the pure in heart can see God." 

As we watched, another pilgrim, who was 
far from shore, looked back. 

"See how different it is with him," said 
my companion. "He is not mourning the 
loss of some little petty thing, as the other 
did. He is trying to help others. See the 

Pafce Sixteen 



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loving look upon his face as he points out 
the path ! And see now, how fast he travels 
onward, as if helping hands were held out to 
him! How radiant he has become — like a 
light to guide others on their way!" 

"There are ones further along who are 
still more radiant," I observed. 

"Yes, but even the lesser lights help to 
make the world brighter," he replied. 

"Who are all these pilgrims upon the 
shore?" I asked. 

"They who seek God." 

"And who are those radiant ones far out 
across the sea?" 

"The pure in heart, who shall find God," 
he replied: "And they shed light upon the 
world because the nearer they approach to 
God, the more they become like Him." 



Pa&e Seventeen 



THE WATER-LILY. 

Deep in the earth, beneath the waters of 
a peaceful lake, lay the root of a water-lily. 
In this root was the germ of life. 

One day, when the warm rays of the 
spring sunshine first penetrated the watery 
depths, the root realized that to live meant 
something more than to merely exist: that 
real living meant growth, fruition. Then 
the desire to live came; and simultaneously 
with this desire, as if awakened by it, came 
the impetus of growth, and the lily's true 
life began. 

Slowly at first, and then more rapidly as 
it gained strength and courage, a long, slen- 
der stem pushed upward toward the surface 
of the lake ; and finally, one day, a fair green 
leaf, the leaf of Hope, floated, now here, now 
there, yet always safely anchored. 

Soon afterward there were two leaves 
rocking gently upon the bosom of the lake. 
The second leaf was very much like the first, 

Pa&e Eighteen 



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except that it was a little larger, and, the 
stem being stouter and stronger, the leaf was 
less easily tossed about by the wind. The 
name of the second leaf was Faith. 

It was wonderful how quickly the third 
stem grew, and a bud made its way toward 
the light, till it lay by the side of its two 
sisters, Hope and Faith. 

Slowly and tremblingly at first, as if 
shaken by emotion, the petals began to un- 
fold in the light of a bright summer morn- 
ing; the glossy green petals first, then the 
white, opened wider and wider, until, at last, 
a tiny miniature of the sun looked up to- 
ward the great sun above, and the lily's life 
was complete. 

That day a man, great and learned, ac- 
cording to the world's standard, chanced to 
be rowing upon the lake. He saw the fair 
white blossom, and, resting upon his oars, 
he soliloquised: "Your life is more perfect 
than mine, O symbol of purity and light! 
All my learning is as nothing compared to 
your wisdom; for while I was struggling in 
the mire of Isms and Ologies, and looking 
Pafee Nineteen 



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vainly to the scanty knowledge of my fellow- 
men for aid, you, realizing the power within 
yourself, obeyed the divine impulse, and 
gave your soul a chance to grow: till now 
your face reflects the light of Heaven." 



Pa&e Twenty 



THE FIRE-FLIES. 

Down in the valley the fire-flies were 
darting about like torch-bearers at some elfin 
fete. They flitted among the trees, playing 
hide and seek among the leaves ; they soared 
high up in the soft summer air till they 
looked almost like some of the lesser stars 
which helped to light the sky; they illu- 
mined the tips of the grasses which bent 
beneath their weight; they lighted up the 
petals of the daisies till they looked like 
gold. 

A crowd of boys and girls were chasing 
the fire-flies. Being children of the day, they 
loved light, and so, though they knew not 
whence or why the impulse came, they ran 
hither and thither, trying to catch the pretty 
things as they flew about. 

The ground was rough, and the children 
often stumbled and fell : only to jump up 
again, laugh the pain away, and hurry on in 
merry pursuit, to be caught in the brambles, 
Pa&e Twenty-one 



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perhaps, and painfully scratched, or stung 
by a nettle, while trying to grasp the tiny 
lamp which lighted its prickly leaf. 

But what did a few hurts matter! Mer- 
rily the children chased about, catching 
the fire-flies, and putting them in bottles, 
where they glowed fitfully, but gave no 
steady light by which they could guide their 
tired feet. 

As they stumbled homeward in the dark- 
ness, one of the children — whose little limbs 
were sore from many bruises — happened to 
glance upward. "Look!" he cried. He 
threw down the bottle of fire-flies he had 
been carrying so carefully, and ran toward 
the hill which rose before them. 

The children all looked up, and straight- 
way each one threw away his fire-flies and 
followed. 

At the top of the hill stood an angel clad 
in white. In her hand was a torch which 
flamed so brightly and steadily that it lighted 
the way for the children to travel up the 
stony path. 

Eagerly they crowded about her. 

Pa&e Twenty-t^o 



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"Tell us," they cried, "what is it that you 
hold in your hand?" 

"It is the Light of Truth," the angel re- 
plied. "See how steadily it burns. The feet 
of many have traveled upward, guided by 
its light." 

"If we had walked in this light we should 
not have stumbled," said the children. 

"Our little lamps flickered so that we 
could not see the path ; and we fell, and were 
painfully bruised." 

"Thus it is with all who follow error," 
the angel said. "But people never see the 
Light of Truth until they look upward." 



Pa&e Twenty-three 



THE WINGED MESSENGER. 

We stood at the water's edge. The sand was 
hard and moist beneath our feet : before us the 
waves danced and sparkled in the sunshine. 

A misty radiance which my eyes could 
not penetrate concealed the distant view. As 
I looked, out from this radiance came a 
snow-white dove. With wings which barely 
skimmed the crest of the waves, the spotless 
bird flew toward me. 

What was it that he carried — a huge 
straw, or a twig, perhaps, to strengthen his 
nest high up on some rocky ledge? 

Nearer and nearer the dove came, till it 
reached the shore, and laid its burden at my 
feet. Then it rested, so close I could have 
taken it in my hand, had I not respected its 
confidence in me, and its inviolable right, 
which all creatures have in common, the 
right to rest after toil. 

At closer view, the burden which the 
bird had brought looked like a round stick, 

Pa&e Twenty-four 



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smoothed and whitened by the waves. I 
picked it up. To my surprise, it proved to 
be a roll of parchment. 

I watched the bird as it flew away across 
the water. Slowly, as if one of many veils 
were lifted, the mist which lay over the more 
distant waters became thinner, and I dimly 
saw a stately building, all dazzling white. 

The bird flew directly toward it, and after 
circling about for a moment, darted in at a 
window. Then the mist thickened again, 
and the building was hidden from my sight. 

Eagerly I unrolled the scroll, till I saw 
these words, written in a bold, clear hand: 

" God is good. There is no good which is not 

of Godr 

I hastened to unroll the scroll further. 
"Wait!" said he who stood at my side. 
"Ponder well upon what you have already 
read." A restraining hand was laid upon 
mine. 

"There is nothing good which is not of 
God. Health, wealth and happiness; joys 
and sorrows ; bliss and woe ; all are of God, 
and all are steps toward God." 
Pa&e Twenty-five 



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I unrolled the parchment further, and 
these words greeted my eyes : 

"God is power. There is no power apart 
from God." 

"Wait!" again the restraining hand held 
mine. 

"God is power: manifested in so many 
different ways. Seed-time and harvest ; heat 
and cold ; sunshine and storm ; life and death. 
Let God be removed but for one moment — 
what chaos!" 

Again I turned to the scroll. 

"God is peace. There is no peace apart 
from God." 

"Consider," said my companion, "what 
peace means. A ceasing from strife and tur- 
moil, first. But peace means something 
more than a merely negative condition : 
there must be an inward consciousness of 
oneness with God. That only can bring rest, 
content, peace. 

"All the sin, sickness and sorrow in this 
world come from straying away from God, 
in one way or another; and until we return 
there can be no peace for us." 

Pa&e Twenty-six 



DAYBREAK 

Again I unrolled the scroll, and read the 
last message: 

"Peace comes to him who has overcome de- 
sire: who has placed his foot upon the head of 
the dragon: whose eyes look not upon the lust of 
the flesh: whose ears are deaf to the song of the 
siren. 

"His feet fall not into the snare of the crafty 
one, for his eyes are fixed upon the hill-top, 
whence shineth the light of truth/' 



Pafce Twenty-seven 



THE CLIMBERS. 

The mountain path up which my white- 
robed companion and I were toiling was steep 
and rough, and the sharp stones hurt my feet. 

I was tired and discouraged. "Why 
should we climb this hard path?" I asked 
rather petulantly. 

"Because each one who climbs," said he, 
"makes the path a little smoother, and a 
little easier, for those who are to follow." 

We toiled on in silence. Soon we reached 
the top. The stars had never seemed as near 
before : one in particular, which shone with 
a clear blue light, seemed less than a span 
away. Suddenly a great longing came over 
me — a longing to visit that star. 

My companion seemed to read my 
thoughts. 

"They who aspire rightly," he said, "may 
even reach the stars." 

At that moment I loved the star better 
than anything. I breathed my love and 

Pa&e Twenty-eifcht 



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aspiration, ho, a shining golden cord, frail, 
yet tangible, reached from me to the star. 

"Oh, had I the knowledge to use this 
golden link which binds earth and sky!" 
said I. Behold, a shining cord, as blue as 
the star itself, hung parallel with the golden 
one. Seemingly blown by the mountain 
breeze, they wound and twisted about me — 
the golden and the blue. 

All suddenly I understood the meaning 
of it all : that I myself, by my aspiration, had 
made a way — an aerial ladder, as it were, 
from earth to sky. Taking the suggestion 
from the gold and blue, gently twisting about 
each other, I breathed deeply, and with each 
breath, found myself farther from the earth, 
and nearer to the star; which, as I ap- 
proached, seemed less strange. When I had 
reached it, it seemed as if I had often been 
there — yet how could it be, when the earth 
was my home ! 

I was surprised to see my former com- 
panion by my side. 

"Did you come over the shining spiral 
with me?" I inquired. 
Pa&e Twenty-nine 



DAYBREAK 

" I cannot travel your path ; nor can you 
travel mine. In this, as in all other things, 
each must make his own way. And some- 
times, while the feet are traveling painfully 
upward, the soul is gaining strength to 
mount to realms most high." 

Then I recalled the steep mountain path, 
with its sharp stones; and I thought of life, 
with its trials and heartaches — both leading 
upward. 

"Look!" said my companion. "See the 
place where you were!" 

The earth had never looked as it did then. 
And humanity — I had never seen it as it 
looked when viewed with broader vision — 
a struggling mass — grovelling, and groping, 
and stumbling, and falling, and rising — to 
fall again — all with eyes fixed upon the 
ground. The sun was shining brightly over- 
head ; but a dark cloud, with only a rift here 
and there, hung over the earth. 

And with their eyes fixed upon the 
ground, the people could not see the bright 
light which shone through in places: for 

Pa&e Thirty 



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truth can never be hidden entirely. It will 
always shine bright and clear somewhere. 

"What makes the darkness over the 
earth?" I asked. 

"The gloomy thoughts of the people," 
he replied. 

"It is so pitiful," I said. "Isn't there 
something we can do?" 

"There is always something we can do," 
he said. "And from this day on you will 
never forget what that something is. No 
matter how bad conditions may be, love 
always works wonders. You have heard 
that many times before, but never under- 
stood what it meant. Now you are to learn." 

I had always loved humanity, but had 
never realized how much till that moment. 
My brothers and sisters, struggling so hope- 
lessly ! Love them ! I would have de- 
scended from the star, and have lost it for- 
ever ! Would have toiled, bent my shoulders 
to the yoke, and my back to the lash ! Would 
have endured tortures unspeakable! any- 
thing ! if by so doing I could help one mortal 
to see the light! 
Pa£e Thirty-one 



DAYBREAK 

"Look now!" said my companion. "See 
the wonder that love has wrought already." 

I looked. A few, a mere handful among 
the vast throng, were looking upward to- 
ward the light. Gradually these few left 
their companions, and, one by one, began to 
travel toward the hill-tops; each choosing 
a different path. It was interesting to watch 
them as they ascended, slowly and haltingly 
at first, but as they more and more, looked 
upward toward the radiant sky, less and less 
did they see the stumbling-blocks in the 
path before them. Finally they did not see 
them at all ; then they ascended rapidly. 

One pilgrim had reached a point higher 
than the others. At a turn in the path a 
huge, savage-looking beast awaited his com- 
ing — crouching, ready to spring upon him. 
I shuddered, expecting to see him torn 
to pieces. When, lo! the beast looked at 
him, then turned and slunk away. The pil- 
grim had shown no fear; yet he carried no 
weapon. 

I turned to my companion, who answered 
my question even before I had formulated 

Pafce Thirty-two 



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it. "Evil has no terrors for him who is 
clothed in the armor of truth," said he. 
"Evil shrinks from the very atmosphere of 
love and truth, as the beast shrank from 
yonder pilgrim. Look now!" 

The climber had reached the hill-top. 

As he stood there, his white robes glisten- 
ing and gleaming in the sunshine, I was re- 
minded of the light which is set on a hill, 
and cannot be hid. 

Throngs of people from the country 
around were beginning to climb up the hill- 
side. At first their eyes were fixed upon the 
leader, worshipfully ; but as he pointed to- 
ward the sun, their upturned faces were 
made radiant in the golden light. 

Other pilgrims climbed to other hill-tops. 
Each had his throng of followers, who came 
from the lowlands near by, till finally there 
were no people left in the valleys : all were 
climbing upward. For that race there was 
no more sorrow, no more sickness, no more 
sin; for they had been shown the way lead- 
ing to Heaven: the one path — toilsome, yet 
Pafce Thirty-three 



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made bright with the radiant sunshine of 
God's love. 

Once more I turned to the white-robed 
Essene. It was he who asked the question 
this time : his eyes looked very earnestly into 
mine as he said : 

" Isn't it worth whole to climb the moun- 
tain-path?" 



Pafce Thirty-four 



THE AWAKENING. 

A soft, dim light filled the place upon 
which I gazed; and I heard the sound of 
many voices singing in tones low and sweet 
— sweeter than we upon earth can sing — 
"Come, weary one, and rest." Over and 
over again they sang it; and a feeling of 
peace came upon me as I listened. 

Presently a woman entered slowly, sup- 
porting the form of a man, whose eyes were 
closed as if in sleep. She placed her burden 
gently upon the ground. As she stood look- 
ing at him, I observed her. She was a fair, 
fair woman, tall and queenly, with a face 
which made me think of one of Raphael's 
Madonnas; but there was a look upon her 
countenance which the greatest artist upon 
earth could not portray. 

The prostrate man opened his eyes, and 
sitting up, he gazed about like a child who 
wakes happily from sleep. He too, heard 
the matchless chorus which, a moment after- 
Pafee Thirty-five 



DAYBREAK 

ward, died softly away : " Come, weary one, 
and rest." 

Looking up, he addressed the woman. 

"Are you the Angel of Death?" he asked. 

"Men call me that," she replied. "I am 
the Angel of New Life — See!" And bend- 
ing tenderly over him, she gently touched 
his eyes with her hand. A look of ecstacy 
came over his face : for he saw the causes of 
all things. He saw the mistakes of his past 
life, and knew why he had failed in some 
things ; and he saw how to atone for wrongs 
he had done; and how to do what was best 
at all times. 

"Not Death, but New Life," he said 
softly, as if to himself. 



Pafce Thirty-six 



THE WAVES. 

I stood at the top of a cliff overlooking 
the sea. At my feet lay the beach, with its 
long stretch of shining sand upon which the 
waves rolled ceaselessly. 

Directly in front of me a low neck of sand 
extended out into the sea. Upon this pro- 
jecting beach stood a woman. Her gown, 
of some soft green fabric, fell in graceful, 
clinging folds till it touched the sand. 

Silently she stood gazing far out across 
the deep. 

Suddenly her eyes became fixed upon a 
huge wave. It seemed as if the sun must 
have fallen upon this one wave with more 
direct rays than upon the others, for it shone 
with a peculiar, golden brilliancy. 

As the wave came toward the shore, it 
seemed to be cloven in the center, so that 
the two parts would strike the shore, each 
upon a different side of the neck of sand 
upon which the woman stood. 
Pa&e Thirty-seven 



DAYBREAK 

As she gazed, Lo, two huge scrolls ap- 
peared, one upon each of the golden waves. 
Upon the wave toward the west these words 
were written: 

"Health, and wealth, and length of days for 
me." 

She turned and read the scroll upon the 
wave toward the east : 

"Health, and ivealth, and length of days for 
others" 

The woman knew instinctively that the 
wave which touched her feet would bring in 
reality that which the scroll said. 

Which wave should she meet? 

She did not covet wealth, surely, nor 
length of days : but so much of her life had 
been passed in illness ; and perfect health 
for the remainder of her life would mean so 
much! 

The woman hesitated. She looked again 
at the waves, rolling rapidly toward her. 

She walked toward the west, and waited 
where the sand was wet. " Health for me at 
last," she said gladly to herself. 

On, and on, and on the wave came. The 
Pafce Thirty-eifcht 



DAYBREAK 

look upon the woman's face grew less glad, 
and a troubled expression came into her 
eyes. 

Just as the two waves reached the shore 
the woman walked to the other side, and, 
with a face as white as marble, hastened 
to meet the wave which bore the words, 
"For others" upon its crest. 

The wave came, and dashed all foaming 
upon her feet. And behold ! the other wave, 
suddenly growing great and powerful, rose 
high, and rolling tumultuously across the 
strip of sand, mingled with its mate. 

The hem of the woman's gown floated, 
and was tossed about like a piece of pale 
green sea-weed upon the eddying waves. 

As the waters receded the woman turned 
to leave the shore, and I saw her face. It 
looked like the face of one transfigured. 



Pafce Thirty-nine 



THE WHEAT-FIELD. 

Side by side the white-robed Essene and 
I walked through a field of wheat, marking 
a path as we went. 

When we had reached the further side, 
we turned and looked back. 

The grain, all golden in the sunlight, was 
gently rocking in the breeze, like a summer 
sea. 

"So like humanity," said he who stood 
beside me, "tossed about by each passing 
fancy, and bending beneath the pressure of 
public opinion." 

The way which we had come was clearly 
defined. "Few there are who walk the path," 
he said, "but see how those few stand out 
amongst the common herd. The stalks 
were all trodden to earth as we passed; but 
a few, the strong ones, have risen again." 

"And mark you," he continued, "they 
have risen, not with the aid of helping hands, 

Pa&e Forty 



DAYBREAK 

but by their own inward strength. So must 
it be with all who would attain." 

"But some are still lying prone upon the 
ground," I remarked. "What of them?" 

"They will never rise again," he replied, 
"like those mortals who are too weak to en- 
dure the crushing and grinding of life's ex- 
periences, and break 'neath the weight of 
them. But the germ of life is still there; 
and sometime — perhaps next season, per- 
haps after many seasons — they will live 
again, in this or in some other form. And 
sometime they will be able to absorb enough 
vigor from the earth, and the sun, and the 
rain, to make them strong, so they can with- 
stand all things that may come." 

A bird, flying down, pulled a stalk of 
wheat up by the root, and flew away with it. 

"There are many who seem to fail in 
their mission on this earth," said my com- 
panion. 

"Some who seem to have been born to 
rule great empires merely serve : but in that 
very serving strengthen that empire ; just as 
Pafce Forty-one 



DAYBREAK 

the stalk of wheat will be woven into the 
nest, and help to make it stronger. 

"There is always some niche to be filled 
by one who is willing." 

Then he added gently, as if to comfort 
me: 

"A life of self-sacrifice always brings one 
nearer the bright blue sky." 



Pa&e Forty-two 



WHEN THE BOAT'S PROW 
TOUCHED THE SHORE. 

An atmosphere of peace and restfulness 
seemed to fill the upper room. 

Through the dense tropical foliage out- 
side a single golden ray from the late after- 
noon sun fell slant-wise across the floor. 

In the fire-place was a fire — a tiny flame, 
yet so strangely brilliant that it seemed like 
a symbol of home, rather than a fire kept 
burning from necessity. 

Close by the hearth was a cradle, quaintly 
fashioned from a single piece of wood. An 
infant was sleeping peacefully in the cradle. 
From the door-way where I was standing 
I could see its face, pale, ethereal, like the 
face of a child upon whom the hand of the 
Angel of Death rested. 

A sweet faced woman moved about the 
room. She, too, had that strange pallor ; but 
there was a radiance about her which the 
child did not have. Human or super-human 
— which she was I could not tell. 
Pafce Forty-three 



DAYBREAK 

As I stood watching, and wondering, an- 
other woman entered the room and stood by 
the cradle, looking at the sleeping child. Im- 
pulsively, she stooped to take it in her arms, 
but the Radiant One gently forbade her. 

When the woman had gone, she turned 
to me. 

"It is hard to forbid a mother to touch 
her own child," she said. 

"Is not the child yours?" I asked, some- 
what surprised. 

"Mine only for a little while," she re- 
plied. "All through my earthly life — the 
only life I can remember — I longed for the 
touch of tiny hands about my neck : for baby 
lips against mine; but my longing was not 
satisfied. 

"Now that I have come into this life, I 
have been given the work I love best of all 
— the care of little children. 

"Sometimes," she continued, "the soul of 
the mother is called away as soon as she has 
brought her child into the world, and often 
the child, too weak to stay by itself, follows. 

"Sometimes this is best, but not always. 

Pa&e Forty-four 



DAYBREAK 

"A wonderful soul lies here," she said, 
as she looked toward the cradle, "a soul that 
will be a power for good in the world; and 
the world has especial need of such souls 
just now. 

" It is my task to watch over this little one 
until it is strong enough to go into the world 
upon its mission." 

The child woke, and the Radiant One 
lifted it from the cradle and held it lovingly 
in her arms. 

"A joy I never knew until I came here," 
she said. 

"But if you love the child so much, will 
you not grieve when it leaves you?" 

"Sometimes I am lonely for a short 
time," she replied, "but never for very long. 
A little motherless one always comes ; and 
sometimes I care for several at one time." 
She pointed to a corner of the room where 
several cradles stood. "They were all filled 
a short time ago, but one by one, as they 
become strong enough, they left me, to go 
out among mortals : all but one, and that 
one followed its mother. 
Pafee Forty-five 



DAYBREAK 

"That is why I could not allow the woman 
who came today to touch her child. The 
other mother took her baby in her arms, and 
it could not resist the mother-love. It went 
with her, to sleep. 

"But the world needs great souls so much 
just now." 

I left the Radiant One caressing the child. 
Going down stairs, I paused upon the thresh- 
old of another room and looked in. 

A cheery young woman was watching 
over a number of little children. One was 
in a cradle, several were creeping about upon 
the floor, and two were toddling happily af- 
ter a kitten, who seemed to enjoy the chase 
as much as they did. 

"Are these also the souls of motherless 
children?" I asked. 

"Yes," she replied, "and I love them all 
for the sake of my own little one, who was 
given and taken away all in one brief day." 

"And do they become helpers of human- 
ity, like those in the upper room?" 

"Yes, but in a different way. The child- 
ren in the upper room will become teachers 

Pa&e Forty-six 



DAYBREAK 

and leaders of men. These that I am caring 
for are destined to serve the world differ- 
ently." 

"This child" — she pointed to one of the 
little toddlers — "will invent many labor- 
saving machines, and so give men more time 
for study and recreation. 

"And the child in my arms will write 
music so sweet that men will be better, sim- 
ply from hearing it. 

"Until a short time ago," she continued, 
there was a beautiful soul here, destined to 
become a world-famous surgeon, able to cure 
blindness regardless of what the cause may 
have been. He grew so strong and rugged 
that I sent him to play upon the sandy 
shore." 

"Have you been there?" she inquired. 

Just then we heard shouting and childish 
laughter. 

"Go look!" said the cherry little lady. 
So I bade her goodbye. 

Leaving the building, I came upon a 
wide, sandy beach. Such a merry crowd I 
saw ! Many little children romping, and 
Pa&e Forty-seven 



DAYBREAK 

digging in the sand, and wading in the tiny 
waves which rippled upon the shore. With 
the children, in merry fellowship, were a 
number of pet animals of various kinds. 

Watching over the children were several 
women, all serving joyously, for they, too, 
had longed for the touch of loving little 
hands. 

Mingling with the merry throng were a 
number of men, young, for the most part, 
who seemed to enjoy the play as much as 
the children themselves. 

I had never realized till then that 
sometimes father-love longs, and is not 
satisfied. 

I was somewhat surprised to see a white- 
haired man sitting upon the sand. He 
looked rather lonely at first; but soon a 
group of children came running to him. 
Some of them sat upon the sand at his feet, 
while others climbed upon his knee. 

Curiously, I approached them. He was 
telling a story. 

When he had finished, he said, "Now 
scamper, every one of you, and play, and 

Pa&e Forty-eifcht 



DAYBREAK 

grow strong, so you will be ready when the 
Love-boat comes." 

As soon as they had gone, the old man 
turned to me. "All my earthly life," he said, 
"I longed to teach little children ; for I loved 
them. But I was dumb from birth; and the 
strange guttural noises I made frightened 
them, so they would not come near me. 

"Now I am very happy; for whenever 
they are tired with play, they hurry to me 
for a story." 

"Please tell me about the Love-boat," I 
requested. 

"Here it comes now," he said, pointing 
far out across the water. "You will see for 
yourself what it is." 

Slowly approaching was a small white 
boat of quaint and graceful design, with a 
golden star at its prow. The young man 
who guided the boat was fair-haired and of 
princely bearing. 

"The messenger whom the Elder Broth- 
ers send," explained the old man. 

"The Elder Brothers — who are they?" 
I asked. 

Pa&e Forty-nine 



DAYBREAK 

"God's chosen helpers. That is all I can 
tell you of them just now," he said. "You 
will know more of them sometime. Knowl- 
edge is never withheld from those who are 
ready to receive it." 

The boat's prow grazed the sand, and 
the messenger looked earnestly at the child- 
ren, all gathered excitedly at the water's 
edge. Stepping ashore, he approached them, 
and, taking a little fellow tenderly in his 
arms, he placed him in the boat. 

The old man at my side waved gaily to 
the child. 

"He surely is strong enough to go into 
the world," he said, "and he is needed there, 
for he will teach men how to turn barren 
lands to fertile ones, and so end famine for 
all time." 

I expected to see weeping when the boat 
left the shore ; but to my surprise every one 
seemed happy. The children and their guar- 
dians waved farewell to the tiny voyager, 
who seemed quite elated at having been 
chosen. 

As if the star at the boat's prow had shed 

Pafce Fifty 



DAYBREAK 

its light along the way, the water in its trail 
shone like molten gold. 

After gazing silently for a few moments 
at the shining path, gradually narrowing in 
the distance, my venerable companion turned 
to me. 

"We call it the Love-boat," he said, "be- 
cause everyone who voyages in it to the land 
of mortals does so through love for human- 
ity, and a desire to serve. 

"And the star at the prow is the ideal — 
the guiding light which he follows through 
life." 



Pag,e Fifty-one 



THE GOLDEN LIGHT. 

As we landed at the head of the bay, we 
heard no sound save that of the summer 
waves, licking the sand at our feet. 

Far back from the beach, commanding a 
view of the bay and of the sea beyond, stood 
a building, creamy-white in color, and unique 
in architecture. 

Its low sloping roof, clearly outlined 
against the dense tropical foliage, reminded 
me of a Japanese temple; yet the purity of 
design, and the absence of distracting orna- 
mentation, gave it an appearance of chaste- 
ness in comparison — like a musical classic, 
heard after a popular ditty. 

As we approached the building, I noticed 
that the same gentle curve had been used in 
outlining the sandy walk and the broad front 
steps. 

In the middle of these steps, extending 
about half way down, was a partition. 

"We must part here," said my guide, 

Pa&e Fifty-two 



DAYBREAK 

"but we shall meet again. I can teach you 
many things, but that which you are to learn 
here can be taught by no one. You must 
perceive the truth for yourself. Once real- 
ized inwardly, truth needs no explanation." 
As my guide climbed the steps at the left, 
I turned to the right. The partition con- 
tinued through the center of the hall which 
I entered. 

At the top, in about the middle of the 
hall, was a huge globe, filled with pure, 
sparkling water. Never before had I seen 
water which shone and radiated as this 
did, filling the whole hall with pure white 
light. 

At my right was a closed door, before 
which, as if to guard it, stood a young man 
wearing a white robe and turban. I asked 
if I might enter. 

"You are not yet ready," said the guar- 
dian kindly. 

As I stood waiting, a feeling of reverence 
came over me, and involuntarily I bowed my 
head. 

The white-robed guardian opened the 
Page Fifty-three 



DAYBREAK 

door silently, and raised his hand in bless- 
ing as I entered the room. 

I felt, rather than saw, the darkness 
which filled the place. As I stood there I 
realized, as I never had before, that the soul 
must be able to stand alone 'midst the gloom 
of the darkest night, ere it can know itself, 
and God. 

I lifted my eyes — above and before 
me was a star, shedding golden light 
through the gloom. Thus a ray of truth 
appears to a soul which stands alone in the 
darkness. 

In a moment I saw, on the further side 
of the room, in base-relief, as it were, the 
likeness of the Christ-child and His Mother. 
Above and around them was a radiance, not 
of earth, lighting up the faces of the Wise 
Men, who stood worshipfully gazing at the 
child. The whole group seemed unlike a 
picture, or a carving — so alive — so pulsing, 
it looked. 

Just then I noticed a light overhead. I 
looked up. Hosts of angels were above me. 
In their midst was Buddha, from whom 

Pa&e Fifty-four 



DAYBREAK 

radiated the same pure light as from the 
Holy Infant. 

Then I understood, as I never had be- 
fore, that it is not the personality of the 
Christ, but the Christ-spirit, which is a light 
unto the world : that this light radiates from 
all the Holy Ones, in greater or less degree, 
lighting the dark places, showing the path, 
constituting the hope of struggling human- 
ity today, when the personalities of the 
World Saviors are well-nigh forgotten. 

As I left the room, the guardian of the 
threshold led me to an opening in the par- 
tition which divided the hall. This opening 
was directly under the globe of chrystal 
water. "Wait," said he. 

As I paused beneath the globe, I felt a 
drop of water upon my head. 

"One drop," said he, "brings illumina- 
tion. From this time on it is given you to 
understand all things." 

In silence we passed to the other side of 
the hall, where, before another closed door, 
my guide waited for me. 

He opened the door, and I entered. 

Pa&e Fifty-five 



DAYBREAK 

When my eyes had become accustomed 
to the dim light, a strange scene was enacted 
before me. At my right, spread out, pano- 
rama-like, was a steep incline, up which 
wound a path, at some points rugged and 
difficult to ascend, at other points filled with 
pit-falls : again in places, the rocks were worn 
smooth from the treading of many feet. 

At the foot of this incline swarmed a vast 
horde of human beings — an infant race — 
till one among them found the beginning of 
the path. 

At first their ascent was not pleasant to 
look upon, for, as they struggled upward, 
they fought like brutes, each one trying to 
gain the easiest way for himself. And many 
of the weaker ones were trampled upon, or 
pushed over the side of the steep cliff ; while 
the strong ones hurried on, threatening 
viciously any who happened to be in their 
way. 

Then, from overhead, obliquely, like rays 
from the sun shining through mist, came the 
Christ-light, and fell upon some of the 
toilers. 

Pa&e Fifty-six 



DAYBREAK 

Immediately a great change came over 
them; they became gentle and kind, and 
tried to help those who were near them. It 
was a beautiful sight to see some of them 
take the burdens from the shoulders of those 
who were weak and disabled. 

The light fell upon some soon after they 
started upon the path ; and at different points 
along the way it fell upon some ; but no one 
reached the top until the Light had fallen 
upon him. 

My attention was directed to a scene at 
my left. 

In a place apart sat a group of men. 
Some of them were studiously poring over 
books : the others were writing. In the 
cheerless blue light which enveloped them 
their faces looked pale and wan, yet all of 
the faces looked earnest. 

As I stood gazing at them, a ray of the 
Christ-light fell upon one who was reading 
— an old man with snowy hair which fell 
upon his shoulders. Closing his book, he 
stood up, looking toward the light. The 
haggard look left his face, the hard lines 
Pa&e Fifty-seven 



DAYBREAK 

disappeared, the tired eyes sparkled with 
hope, and he looked years younger. 

Calling his fellow-students, he bade them 
stand in the Light also : I marveled at the 
change which came over them. 

The ray of Light widened, till, mingling 
with the blue, it filled the whole place, till 
there was no gloom, nor any shadows at all. 

With the white rays were rays of purest 
gold. 

One by one those who wrote were bathed 
in the cheering light. Then the words which 
they wrote shone as if their pens had been 
dipped in molten gold. 

And it was granted me to look down 
through the ages yet to come, where, in 
never ending procession, the feet of unborn 
thousands tread the thorny earthly path, and 
see them, with outstretched hands and wist- 
ful eyes, reach upward to the illumined vol- 
umes which shone like stars of purest gold. 



Pa&e Fifty-eifcht 



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